Fruits and veggies: Taste the rainbow

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rose Gudex
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - --  For members in the U.S. Armed Forces, it is required to maintain a high standard of fitness and health to sustain a positive image while in uniform. The Health and Wellness Center at Peterson Air Force Base has a new avenue for people to take advantage of to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

The HAWC hosted a Fruit and Veggie - Eat More Tour at the Peterson Commissary on July 21 to educate Airmen about eating healthy and finding ways to make it more enjoyable.

The idea evolved from the Group and Lifestyle Balance class already offered through the HAWC, said Dana Johnson, HAWC health promotion educator. Once a week the participants of the class gathered at the commissary to learn about healthier food options. She said commissary passers-by tuned in to listen and some actually joined the group to learn more.

“They would end up just joining us, so I thought it might be a good idea to offer it to more than just my class because I know there are a lot of people out there who don’t know what they’re doing in the produce section,” Johnson said.

The HAWC teamed up with the commissary manager and vendors to discuss what is available to consumers, compare foods, read labels, learn how to properly cook less common foods and so much more, she said.

“It’s an opportunity to learn a little bit more about the local commissary,” Johnson said. “Also, testing of some of the fruits and vegetables we’re a little more nervous about and don’t know what to do with – like eggplant!”

Not only did attendees learn about when to purchase certain produce and how to cook it, they got to sample some of them. In addition, Johnson provided handouts with information about the health benefits of the rainbow of fruits and vegetables, questions to help people remember things they learned, and resources with even more information.

“I hope people remain open minded and have a willingness to try something different, something new,” Johnson said. “Not only that, but taking home the information they learned and passing it on to other people.”

The first Fruit and Veggies Tour was the first of hopefully many more successful events, she said. The tour will be held at the commissary on the third Thursday of each month at noon.

For more information, contact Dana Johnson at 719-556-9642 or dana.johnson.9.ctr@us.af.mil


 

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